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PREP VOLLEYBALL: Panthers hold off Vikings in four sets

TMB’s Evy Dolan connects on a kill during their match against Minneota on Thursday. The Panthers defeated the Vikings 3-1.

MINNEOTA – In front of a packed gym the Tracy-Milroy-Balaton Panthers and the Minneota Vikings showed why they are considered to be two of the best programs in the area. On this night it was the fourth ranked Panthers defeating the eighth ranked Vikings, 3-1.

“We knew it was going to be a hostile environment,” TMB coach Rick Haberman said. “It’s fun having a regular season match like this where it’s a full house. Both crowds were into it.”

The Panthers came out firing on all cylinders in the opening set. They held a 3-2 lead and went on an 8-0 run to open up an 11-2 lead and never looked back, as they went onto win the opening set 25-13.

“I was really pleased with how focused we were,” Haberman said. “Our intensity was really good. I thought we just played real clean volleyball. It was our best set of the year. We wanted to be able to set the tone right away, and I thought we were able to do that.”

Minneota coach Hayley Fruin said her team didn’t match TMB’s intensity in the first set.

“We started out flat in the first set and TMB came out firing,” Fruin said. “I’m glad we didn’t give up hope in that second set.”

TMB’s Sydney Lanoue and Evelyn Dolan both recorded six kills in the opening set. Cassidy Smith finished with 15 assists.

For Minneota, Lydia Sussner recorded two kills.

In the second set it was the Vikings that got off to a hot start. They jumped out to a 7-3 lead and went onto take the second set 25-21.

Fruin said her team did a much a much better job of passing in the second set.

“The first set our passing wasn’t good,” Fruin said. “Morgan (Kockelman) was running all over the place. She got a good workout in that first set. Our passing was much better in that second set.”

Despite the loss in the second set, Haberman said he was pleased with how his team fought back from large deficits.

“I was impressed with how we came back in the second set,” Haberman said. “We were down by eight or 10 a few times and we were able to creep back and get it within two, but they were able to close it out. I thought by rallying in that second set it really helped us get momentum for the third and fourth sets. Those final two sets were dog fights.”

Sussner finished the second set with six kills.

“She’s just a rockstar,” Fruin said. “She’s smart and sees the court well. She did great tonight.”

Lanoue finished the set with eight kills. Dolan finished with four kills. Smith finished with 14 assists.

The Panthers won a back and forth third set, 25-18. Lanoue led the Panthers with eight kills in the set. Sidney Karbo chipped in with three kills.

Sussner led the Vikings with four kills. Lizzy Gillingham finished with three kills.

The fourth set was another back and forth affair with the Panthers coming out on top 25-21. Haberman said that he was proud of the way his team was able to close out the match in a hostile environment.

“I thought we grew up quite a bit tonight,” Haberman said. “We’ve all talked about how much the experience the seniors have. What I really liked is we fought well together. There were times we faced adversity and Minneota was rolling. I thought we stuck together well there. This is a team that still hasn’t played a lot of matches together. I thought we did a good job of pulling together when the going got tough. That was good to see. We had some young kids that played well in an environment that’s tough to play in.”

Lanoue led the way for the Panthers in the fourth set with five kills. Dolan chipped in with three kills.

Sussner and Gillingham both finished the fourth set with three kills for the Vikings.

With the win the Panthers improved to 7-2 overall. They’ll be back in action on Tuesday against Renville County West.

The loss drops the Vikings to 7-3 overall. They’ll be back in action against Lac qui Parle Valley on Tuesday.

“We know what we need to work on,” Fruin said. “We need to work on covering some roll and tip shots. We need to work on our serve receive passing. Next week we will go at it again and work on at the gym.”

TMB 25 21 25 25

MINNEOTA 13 25 18 21

Individual Statistics

Serving (Ace): TMB (Smith, Karbo 2).

Kills: TMB (Lanoue 28; Dolan 16; Karbo 8; Edwards 7).

Digs: TMB (Kirk 29; Lanoue 19; Smith 17).

Set Assists: TMB (Smith 45).

Blocks: TMB (Dolan 7).

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